Walter Murch's illustrious career in Hollywood began in 1969 when he started editing sound for Francis Ford Coppola's film, The Rain People. His impressive portfolio grew to include editing sound on American Graffiti in 1973 and The Godfather Part II in 1974, earning him his first Academy Award nomination for The Conversation in the same year. Murch's Oscar-winning streak commenced with his work on Apocalypse Now in 1979, and he further solidified his reputation by winning an unprecedented double Oscar for Best Sound and Best Film Editing for his contribution to The English Patient in 1996.
In addition to his extensive work in film editing, Murch was instrumental in reconstructing the classic film Touch of Evil (1958) according to Orson Welles' original notes, and he also edited The Talented Mr. Ripley in 1999. As a founding member of northern California cinema, alongside George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola, Murch has played a pivotal role in shaping the film industry.
Notably, Murch has also ventured into directing, helming the 1985 film Return to Oz, and has expressed a desire to return to directing in the future. However, his expertise as an editor and sound designer has earned him widespread recognition as one of the few universally acknowledged masters in his field. Murch's innovative approach to sound design, which he coined the term "sound designer" for in his work on Apocalypse Now, has had a profound impact on the art and craft of film sound, elevating it to new heights alongside his colleagues, including Ben Burtt.
